come off

British  

verb

1. (also preposition) to fall (from), losing one's balance

2. to become detached or be capable of being detached

3. (preposition) to be removed from (a price, tax, etc)

   will anything come off income tax in the budget?

4. (copula) to emerge from or as if from a trial or contest

   he came off the winner

5. informal to take place or happen

6. informal to have the intended effect; succeed

   his jokes did not come off

7. slang to have an orgasm

8. informal stop trying to fool me!

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come off Idioms  

1. Happen, occur, as in The trip came off on schedule . [Early 1800s]

2. Acquit oneself, reach the end. This usage always includes a modifier, as in Whenever challenged he comes off badly , or This model is doomed to come off second-best . [Mid-1600s]

3. Succeed, as in Our dinner party really came off . [Mid-1800s]

4. See come off it .

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

come off

But these attempts largely come off as cloying, even silly.

From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026

Head coach Michael Carrick told Norwegian broadcaster VG post-match that Mount had come off as a precaution after taking a hefty blow to his foot.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

Top state Democrats like Sen. Gary Peters and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who had no interest in getting involved in this primary, have come off the sidelines in the final few weeks to endorse Stevens.

From Slate ● Jul. 30, 2026

While oil prices have come off their peaks of February and March, the recent resumption of hostilities in the Middle East is again pushing them higher, leaving New Zealand exposed to another international shock.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

“Thankee,” said he; “then we’ll consider that it’s to come off, when convenient to you. Have you dined with Mr. Jaggers yet?”

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

Related Words

• go off
• go over
• pan out